Colangelo out as Raptors GM, still president

TORONTO (AP) - Bryan Colangelo is still president of the Toronto Raptors, but he’s no longer the club’s general manager.

The Raptors announced Tuesday that while Colangelo’s contract as team president is being extended, a new general manager will be hired within the next 30 days.

The changes were announced by Tim Leiweke, who is the incoming CEO of team owner Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Leiweke also said he is moving up his start date from July 1 to June 3.

“We have a lot of work to do in this organization,” Leiweke said. “We’re not good enough. I believe Bryan can help in a lot of those areas.”

The Raptors were 10th in the Eastern Conference this year, finishing out of the playoffs for a franchise-worst fifth straight season.

“There is accountability here and we need a new set of eyes and a new thinking,” Leiweke said.

Leiweke was hired last month after a successful period in charge of Anschutz Entertainment Group, owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.

Leiweke said Colangelo fought “like heck” to keep his role as general manager.

“Bryan’s probably ticked off at me,” Leiweke said, then paused to chuckle. “There’s no probably. He’s ticked off at me. This isn’t his perfect world, either. But to his credit, he accepts it.”

Colangelo said he was “a little disappointed,” but denied being angry at Leiweke.

“It’s a unique situation for me to be in,” Colangelo said. “Not an ideal situation but I’m going to embrace it and make the most of it.”

Leiweke addressed concerns that keeping Colangelo around would complicate things for any new hire by stressing that the new GM will have complete authority on basketball matters and will report directly to Leiweke, not Colangelo.